Mold disk for typographical machines



Dec. 3, 1935. SPERRY 2,023,384

MOLD DISK FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed March 12. 1935 FIZZ ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLD DISK FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES tion of New York Application March 12, 1935', Serial No. 10,711

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in typographical machines, and more particularly to type slug casting machines of the gen eral class wherein lines of character bearing matrices are presented to one or another of a plurality of slug casting molds having casting cavities of different sizes according to lines of different lengths or characters of different sizes, which are mounted concentrically in an annular series on the face of a mold wheel or disk which is rotatable to enable any desired mold thereon to be brought selectively into use and to locate the selected mold in casting position for the casting of a type bar or slug therein, and in ejecting position for the removal of the cast slug therefrom. A slug casting machine of this general class is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532 granted September 16, 1890, which also has associated therewith assembling. means for assembling the matrices into lines preparatory to the casting of the slugs therefrom and distributing means for returning the matrices from the lines, after casts have been made therefrom, to their usual storage places in the machine, but the present invention relates in general to slug casting machines of the class referred to, whether or not it be associated with matrix assembling and distributing means.

Obviously in using slug casting machines of this class much time can be saved by having available for immediate use in the machine the greatest possible number of molds of different sizes in order to produce slugs up to the maximum length for which the machine is designed in sizes suitable for the many sizes of type used in printing. However, attempts that have been made to employ more than four molds on the disk have either required increasing the diameter of the disk entailing radical alterations in the mechanisms associated therewith, or resulted in sacrifice of strength of the disk and of the rigidity of mounting of the molds thereon, or involved the introduction of complications in the mode of operation of the disk min the arrangement and mounting of the molds thereon.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mold disk of such novel and improved construction as will enable the mounting and supporting thereon with the requisite rigidity the greatest possible number of molds capable of casting slugs of the maximum length for which the machine is designed, without weakening the disk or disturbing the relation of the disk or of the molds with other cooperating parts of the machine.

The-improved mold disk and mold mounting means provided by the present invention enable the disk to carry as many as six molds, each with a capacity for casting slugs of the maximum length for which the machine is designed, the 5 disk has greater strength than heretofore and the molds are supported thereby with the required rigidity, the functional relationship of the disk and the molds thereon-with the cooperating parts of the machine is maintained in all 10 respects, and the manufacture of the disk is facilitated and rendered less expensive. In its preferred construction, the disk comprises a body portion of. polygonal form which provides a series of mold seats arranged symmetrically on 15 its periphery on which the-molds are mounted and retained as a self-contained unit, and means distinct from the body portion of the disk, such for example, as a rim or toothed gear ring secured to the molds, vfor rotating the disk.

To these and-other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 isa front elevation, partly in section, of the improved mold disk having a set of molds mounted-thereonin accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectiontaken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the improved mold disk and one of the molds thereon in cross-section and also showing a portion of the mold disk slide; and 35 Figure 3 is a. detail section, on an enlarged scale, showing the mold clamping means provided by the present invention.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different figures.

The preferredembodiment of the invention is shown-in the present instance applied to the well known form of line casting machine disclosed in the patent hereinbefore mentioned, the mold disk I being secured to a shaft 2 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 3 the latter being carried by aslide 4 mounted to reciprocate in a guide 5 in the main frame of the machine, so that the mold disk maymove forwardly to bring a mold thereon-against a matrix line preparatory to the casting of a slug therefrom and may retract rearwardly to disengage it from the line after each cast has been made, as usual in machines of thisclass. Reference may be hadto U. S. Letters Patent.No.- 1,267,164 granted May 21, 1918 for details of the mounting and operation of the mold disk slide that may be employed, although the construction and operation of the mold disk slide may vary, since the present invention concerns the construction of the mold disk itself and the arrangement and mounting of the molds thereon.

Heretofore, in line casting machines of the class referred to, the mold disk has been composed of a unitary circular plate having gear teeth formed on its periphery and having openings or pockets formed therein toward its outer edge, the bases of which defined an annular series of seats to which slug casting molds located in the openings have been secured by screws or bolts. The mold receiving openings as previously used must extend through the disk in order to permit contact of the back of the mold somewhat beyond the ends of its slug casting cavity with the mouth of the usual metal pot from which molten metal is forced at the proper time to cast the slug, and the number of openings in the disk must correspond with the number of molds thereon.

Consequently, if the number or length of the mold openings in the face of the disk were increased to provide a greater number of molds on the disk, or for longer molds thereon, the crosssection of the metal web remaining between adjacent ends of the mold openings to support the toothed rim or periphery of the disk will be correspondingly decreased. Thus, it has been found that if six mold openings are provided in the mold disk, each to accommodate a mold capable of casting a slug of the maximum length for which the machine is designed, the disk is rendered so weak that it easily breaks and is therefore unsuitable for practical use. If the diameter of the mold disk were increased or the molds disposed at a different angle thereon with respect to the axis of rotation of the disk than usual in machines of this class, such mold disk and molds would be incapable of functioning with the associated parts of the machine and could not be employed without requiring difficult and objectionable alterations of the mechanisms of the machine. The present invention provides an improved mold disk which is of sufficient strength to support thereon a greater number of molds than usual, with the requisite rigidity, without increasing the diameter of the disk or otherwise disturbing the functional relationship between the disk and molds thereon and the associated mechanisms of the machine.

According to the present invention the mold disk comprises a body portion, the periphery of which is polygonal in form and provides an annular series of mold seats or ledges 6 the faces of which are defined substantially by intersecting chords of a circle which is concentric with the axis of the disk, such seats being arranged symmetrically and spaced equidistantly around the periphery of the body portion. Each mold seat is preferably provided with means for accurately locating the mold thereon, each seat having for example pins I fixed therein to locate a mold with respect to the plane of rotation of the disk and a block 8 fixed therein to locate a mold endwise on the seat. In the present instance, seats are provided on the mold disk for six molds, the present invention enabling such number of molds, each of a length capable of casting slugs of the maximum length for which the machine is designed, to be accommodated on the disk and to be supported thereby with the requisite rigidity, the molds being so arranged on the disk that they are capable of cooperating with the associated parts of the most commonly used forms of slug casting machines without requiring radical alterations therein.

Molds of different forms may be used, those shown in the present instance each comprising a lower or base section 9, an upper or cap section l0 and end members H. The base section 9 of each mold which rests on the respective mold seat 6, is provided on its seat engaging face with 10 a groove [2 to receive the respective pins 7 and thereby accurately locate the mold in the plane of rotation of the disk, and the seat engaging face of the base section of each mold is formed with a recess I3 to receive the respective block 8 and thereby accurately locate the mold endwise on its seat. The end members ll connected to the cap sections of each mold space the mold cap and body section apart the proper distance to form a slug casting cavity M of the desired size between them, it being understood that the slug casting cavities of the different molds on the disk may be of different sizes according to different desired sizes of type characters, and the end members ll may close the ends of the casting cavities of the molds, as shown in the present instance. Each of these end members ll may be secured to the respective mold cap section by a screw l5 and a dowel pin l6, each end section being shouldered at l! to abut against the base section 9, and each end section is formed at its outer side with a recess I! at an angle substantially radial to the axis of the disk.

The molds on the mold seats on the disk are arranged in a concentric annular series in end to end relation, and means is provided for clamping or securing the molds to the disk. Preferably and as shown in the present instance, a headed or shouldered screw I8 is provided between the ends of adjacent molds, each screw being threaded into the disk radially of the axis thereof, and each screw, when tightened, serving to clamp to their seats the adjacent ends of the two molds between which it is located. These screws, because of their angular relation with the mold end members I I, also serve to force the end members firmly against the ends of the respective base sections of the molds, when such screws are tightened. The mold clamping screws are also preferably so constructed and arranged that they exert equalized clamping action upon the ends of the adjacent molds, for which purpose the under side of the head of each of these screws is formed with a spherical or other suitable curvature l9 to cooperate with a correspondingly curved surface on a washer or ring-like member 20, the latter being adapted to seat against the shoulders 2| at the bases of the recesses Il By so constructing the mold clamping means, any variations in level of the bottoms 2| of the recesses I! in adjacent molds, such as would result in an imperfect seating of the washer 20, as indicated in Figure 3, and consequent unequal clamping action of the screw I8, will be compensated for by the self-accommodation of the curved surfaces on the screw head and washer.

In order to enable the closest possible arrangement of the molds on the disk, the base sections 9 of the molds are beveled off at their opposite ends below the usual matrix alining rail 2 l thus preserving this rail over the full length of the mold cavity, and the mold end members H are correspondingly beveled.

The body portion of the mold disk may be provided with alining studs 22 for cooperation in the usual and well-known manner with alining bushings or blocks in the machine, when the mold disk advances, to aline the mold. in use with the matrix line or the slug ejecting and trimming means, as well understood in machines of this class.

The annular series of molds mounted on the intersecting symmetrically arranged seats on the periphery of the body portion of the mold disk constitutes a self-contained structure by which the molds are supported with the requisite strength and rigidity, and by locating the casting cavities of the molds at the same distance from the center or axis of the disk as usual in mold disks as heretofore commonly used, any one or another of the molds on the disk will cooperate properly with the matrix line presenting means, casting and ejecting mechanisms and other associated parts in their usual locations in line casting machines of this class, and in order to enable the improved mold disk to be rotated by the usual operating means present in machines of this class, to bring one or another mold into use and to carry the selected mold in use from one operative position to another to enable the slug casting and ejecting operations to be performed as usual, the disk is provided for this purpose with means for rotating it which is distinct from the body portion of the disk.

Preferably and as shown in the present instance, rotation of the disk by the usual operating means present in machines of this class is made possible by providing a toothed peripheral portion 23 which preferably surrounds or circumscribes the molds and is secured to the cap sections thereof. This toothed periphery may be of any suitable form, it comprising preferably a toothed gear ring having an inwardly projecting web or flange 24 which may be secured to the cap sections of the molds by suitable means such as screws 25. This gear ring may be of a diameter to cooperate with the usual mold turning pinion as usually employed in line casting machines of this class.

By constructing a mold disk as herein shown and described, the space heretofore required between the ends of adjacent molds to enable the disk to be formed with webs of suitable strength to support the rim thereon, can be apportioned among the molds and thus enable the maximum number thereof to be accommodated on the disk without weakening it. The radial disposition of the mold clamping means with respect to the disk enables the mold parts to be firmly secured together and to the mold seat by pressing inwardly on the ends of the molds as well as downwardly toward the seat, and the arrangement of the clamping screws whereby each screw serves to clamp the adjacent ends of two molds reduces to a minimum the amount of space required for efiectively securing the molds to the disk.

Moreover, the improved construction of the mold disk and mounting of the molds thereon enables the maximum mold capacity or the disk to be utilized without disturbing the functional relations of the disk and molds to other parts or" the machine with which they must cooperate.

Furthermore, the construction of the body portion of the disk separately from the rim portion thereof facilitates manufacture since the mold seats on the disk are made accessible for machining and fitting of mold locating stops to the degree of accuracy required and assembly of the molds on the disk can be accomplished more readily.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having a series of intersecting mold seats disposed symmetrically on its periphery, a series of molds arranged end to end on the mold seats, and means at the intersections of the mold seats and common to and cooperative with the ends of adjacent molds thereon for securing the molds to the body portion of the disk.

2. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having an annular series of intersecting mold seats disposed symmetrically on its periphery, a series of molds arranged end to end on the mold seats, and clamping means secured to the body portion of the disk at the intersections of the mold seats and common to and cooperative with the ends of adjacent molds for clamping them to their seats.

3. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having an annular series of mold seats disposed symmetrically on its periphery equidistant radially from the center of the disk, a series of molds arranged end to end on the mold seats and having their ends disposed equidistantly from the center of the disk, and means common to the ends of adjacent molds for securing them to the disk.

A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having a series of mold seats disposed symmetrically on its periphery at equal distances radially from the center of the disk, a series of molds each having shoulders at both ends, clamping means between adjacent molds and secured to the body portion of the disk, and means cooperative with the clamping means and common to and engageable with the shoulders of adjacent molds for distributing the pressure of the clamping means equally thereon.

5. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having an annular series of mold seats disposed symmetrically on its periphery, a series of molds arranged end to end on the mold seats and having shoulders on their ends disposed equidistantly from the center of the disk, shouldered clamping screws extending radially into the body portion of the disk between the mold seats, and annular members on said screws and common to and cooperative with the shoulders of adjacent molds for clamping the latter with equal pressure against their seats.

6. A mold disk for a. slug casting machine comprising a body portion, a series of molds secured thereto, and an independent rim portion circumscribing the molds and body portion and secured directly to the molds.

'7. A mold disk for a slug casting machine com prising a body portion, a series of molds secured thereto, and a rim portion independent of the body portion and carried by the molds.

' 8. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion, a series of molds secured thereto, and a rim portion independent of the body portion and secured directly to each of the molds.

9. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion, a series of molds comprising base and cap sections secured thereto, and a continuous rim portion circumscribing the molds and secured to the cap sections thereof.

10. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion, a series of molds secured thereto, and a gear ring surrounding the molds and secured thereto independently of the body portion.

11, A mold disk fora slug casting machine comprising a body portion and a rim portion, a series of mold locating seats being formed on the body portion, a series of molds arranged end to end on said seats, means cooperative with the body portion of the disk for securing the molds to the seats thereon, and means on the molds for securing the rim portion relative to the body portion of the disk.

12. A mold disk for a slug casting machine com! prising a. body portion having a periphery of polygonal form and providing a series of mold seats disposed symmetrically thereon, a series of molds arranged end to end on said seats and surrounding said body portion, means arranged between and cooperative with the ends of adjacent molds and with said body portion for securing the molds thereon, a continuous gear ring surrounding the molds beyond the periphery of the body portion, and means securing said ring to said molds.

13. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having a mold seat on the periphery, a mold mounted on said seat and comprising cooperative upper and lower mold sections, and means at the ends of the mold seat cooperative with the upper mold section to clamp the mold sections together and secure them to said mold seat.

14. A mold disk for a slug casting machine comprising a body portion having a mold seat on its periphery, a mold having a lower section adapted to mount on the mold seat, an upper section with portions surrounding the top and ends of the lower mold section, and means at each end of the mold seat arranged at oppositely disposed angles thereto and engaging substantially radially with the body portion of the disk, to clamp the upper mold section to the lower mold section and secure both sections to the seat on the disk.

SAMUEL E. SPERRY. 

